Despite a valiant effort, the volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to heavily favored Hope College in the national quarterfinals yesterday afternoon in University Heights, Ohio. The setback ends the Jumbos' historic 2009 season with a mark of 31-5.
The New England region has not had a decorated history at this stage of the NCAA Tournament, but against nationally ranked No. 6 Hope, unranked Tufts did as well — if not better — than any of its recent predecessors. After pulling out a thrilling 31-29 victory in the third set, in which they overcame six match points, the Jumbos became the first New England representative to win a set in the national quarterfinals since 2004. Leading the charge was junior outside hitter Dawson Joyce-Mendive, who had 10 of her game-high 22 kills in the third set.
Tufts continued to hang around, staying within three points of Hope for much of the fourth set. But, leading 17-15, the Flying Dutch rattled off six consecutive points to put the match out of reach. The Jumbos would save two more match points before a kill by sophomore Jacie Fiedler, her 10th of the set, clinched a 25-18 fourth-set victory and Hope's first-ever trip to the Final Four.
The Jumbos battled the Flying Dutch valiantly in the first two sets, dropping narrow 25-17 and 25-23 decisions. Tufts' quest to be the first New England team to reach the Final Four in eight years was derailed, in part, by 11 service errors.
In the final match of her career, senior co-captain Dena Feiger paced Tufts with 45 assists, while classmate and fellow captain Brogie Helgeson contributed a team-high 15 digs.
The loss marked the end of a record-setting 2009 campaign for the Jumbos, the highlight of which was the deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history.
See Monday's Daily for further coverage.
